Over the past week and a half to two weeks I noticed that every once in a while my ABS light would come on when I started the car, other times it wouldn't. Last night I was driving the car and I was driving it pretty rough. By 'rough' I mean hard acceleration a few times in a row. (This car shifts really high, almost to redline from 1st to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd....it'* fun to drive, I can't help it sometimes )

Anyway, I applied the brakes pretty hard just to see how they functioned, since my ABS light was on again. Well after all the driving and then applying the brakes, I started to smell a nasty burnt smell. I had no idea what it was, but I KNEW something was wrong. I stopped the car and opened the hood and I could see a little bit of smoke coming from underneath the engine, over by the driver'* side strut tower and around the ABS module...that general area. I first thought it smelled like coolant burning...and I thought a gasket blew...but I found that it wasn't that. But it smelled horrible.

I drove it again, not accelerating hard, but I did brake from about 70mph to 0 pretty quickly, and I could smell it again. I am starting to think it'* brake fluid burning somehow. I know somethings up with my brakes anyway because today the ABS light came on again, and even the parking brake light came on and stayed on even when the p-brake was disengaged. I smelled what I did the night before, but later in the day it was gone.

The car runs fine, but the ABS light comes on once in a while, and I notice it takes more pressure to stop the car. I also hear a bit of a rattle sound maybe every couple days when I brake...the sound comes from the pedal itself, as if something'* loose. My dad and I changed the brakes probably 3 1/2-4 weeks ago tops and there were no problems until the past week an a half. Hope I explained everything well.

Anyone have any ideas as to what'* going on? Thanks a ton!

-Pete

If your cars ABS system is anything like mine Pete, you have a brake line that leads from your master cylinder to the ABS controller. If the line is leaking then brake fluid is dripping onto a hot transmission casing. Check to see if there is a braided section on your brake line.

If something is not right with the system or the ABS controller is not receiving brake fluid pressure, it may throw and ABS light. I highly doubt its the ETCBM, which is good.

Just an idea bro...hopefully its just a line. 11 years out of a braided line (if that is the case) is not to bad. Have a look for leaks and watch the master cylinder for brake fluid loss.

Mine made a horrible smell too before i replaced the MC

when you changed the brakes you didn't let the brake caliper hang from the brake line did you? It could be possible that the hose was older, dried out, and cracked so now it'* spraying fluid onto the rotors (hot) when you brake. OR like Jim said, you could have a bad brake line near the ABS module that is worn out and sprays fluid when applying the brakes hard. Either one could cause your braking problems. The parking brake light is coming on because you're probably low on fluid, that is the most common cause for that light coming on.

Did you check your fluid levels in the resivoir? Did the ABS come on when this happened?

Maybe Try Pulling your ABS fuse to disable the system, and brake hard and see what happens.

If the car had cheap brake pads put on they will stink. My car had new brakes installed when I bought it and they really stunk for a couple weeks. Now they are half worn.

I'm guessing it must be a leak too so I'll just double check to see if a line is cracked. I had thought that it was dripping on the tranny case too since the smoke was coming from that general area. The fluid level looks good, but I do know that when my dad changed the front pads (he improvises sometimes, does things his way, plus it was freezing out so he was in a hurry) fluid started leaking when he was pushing the caliper pistons in. I could see it from under the car.

I drove to work today. I had no ABS light this time. I'll try pulling the fuse too. Thanks guys, I'll keep you posted.